by Dale Mayer
“Because they still need the paycheck?”
She nodded. “Yet their relationship with my father was solid. But Angelina…there was something about her. She wasn’t as friendly to me as she was the rest of the family.” She shook her head. “Still I had little to do with them, so I’ll keep my mouth shut and let you form your own opinions.”
“We will,” Saul said. “But anything you can tell us will help.”
“What if the senator dies?” Levi asked. “What was the relationship between the pair and your mother? Is she likely to keep them on?”
Harrison watched Zoe wince.
“My mom is very generous and very easily taken in. She’s already come from decades of abuse. Honestly, I don’t think Johan or Angelina would be physically abusive. But they may be very manipulative to make sure they stayed where they were.”
“They sound like real winners. What would you recommend your mother do when she gets home?” Harrison asked.
“I’ll tell her to sell the house, get rid of the staff, move to a climate she prefers and start all over again.”
“Is she likely to listen to that?” Saul asked.
She glanced at him and shrugged. “That is really hard to tell. My mother is very intelligent, but after thirty years of living with that level of fear, I don’t know if she’s strong enough to change.”
Dakota asked, “Does she have any family? Anybody who could help snap her out of it?”
Zoe smiled. “Aunt Betty lives in Germany. She told my mom to get the hell out a long time ago. She’s married to a German, and he told my mom to get out a long time ago too.”
“But obviously she didn’t listen. Any other family?”
“All four of my grandparents have passed away.”
“Do you remember them?” Levi asked. “Did they have any relationship with the senator? Did you with them?”
She shook her head. “Formal dinners where I wasn’t allowed to speak. I was only permitted to be seen at the occasional cocktail party where my paternal grandfather would show up. He didn’t have any time for me either.”
“I thought rich kids were to be envied,” Dakota said. “But it sounds like it’s a real shitty life.”
She glanced at him. “You know what it’s like playing in a playground, right?”
He nodded. “Sure, of course. Every kid does.”
She shook her head. “I don’t. I was never allowed to. I was never on a swing. I’m nearing thirty years old, and I’ve never been on a swing. I know that’s a foolish comparison, but it should give you an idea. I’ve never been on a picnic. There were no sports days for me at school. There were no sleepovers at friends’ houses or anything fun like that. It was all about academia, and, of course in the off-hours, it was all about drugs and sex. Because if you think boarding schools are anything other than the wealthy having easier access to all the above, you’re wrong. Because they have oodles of money, are arrogant and egotistical, and really, if there is trouble with the school, the parents buy off the headmaster. Or pay a fee and the kid continues on his merry way. I used to sit and wish and wonder why I couldn’t be in a public school where kids get to play hide-and-seek and tag and kick a ball around.”
Finally, she held out her hands. “My father took my baseball and glove out of my hands. It wasn’t ladylike enough.”
Harrison sat back after exchanging a quick glance with the other men and realized he’d had no idea. “It’s not something any of us thought about. We all had more or less normal upbringings. We did sleepovers at friends’ houses. We did the usual Saturday morning play in the ballpark, rode bikes and generally hung out.”
“Ride a bike? No.” She chuckled. “Yeah, I’ve never ridden a bike.” She opened her arms. “Not that I can’t learn. But there is something very defeating about learning to ride a bike when you’re almost thirty. I missed so many things growing up. And yet I had everything I could possibly want in many ways. I had the electronics. I had big fancy toys. I had a bedroom probably bigger than most people’s top floors.
“But I was alone, and never allowed to have a friend sleep over because my mother was always traumatized. I could never have any friends in the house because my father was beating her up or in one of his moods, about to verbally attack me. Then, as I grew older, I didn’t want anybody to know about my family. My house wasn’t a home, it was a prison in which I chose to be alone because to have somebody there would be worse.
“If you really want to tear my family apart, expose all our secrets. Announce it on the news as ours being one of the worst families in the area. When I said, I don’t know anything else, I meant it. I didn’t have anything to do with my brother or father, and the only person I ever stayed connected with was my mother. And even that was very hard to do because she just wouldn’t leave him. So I couldn’t see her at home very often, and when I did, things like what happened the last time were always the result.”
“That was not an unusual occurrence for you?” Levi said. “He would have these kinds of outbursts all the time?”
“Yes, but he never went so far as to bring out his handgun. I tried hard for my mother’s sake to be the obedient daughter. Because if anybody paid, it would be her first. I made a point of always meeting her out of the house, even for coffee. But if he knew where she was going, it wasn’t allowed either.”
Harrison froze and said, “Then we really have to ask why you were there that night. You were actually staying at the house?”
She took in a slow jagged breath. “Yes. I was hoping to gain my father’s cooperation.” She rolled her eyes. “Foolish of me. I wanted him to help me with Tamara’s case. So I was spending some days at home, looking for an opening to talk to him.”
“You meant to use his power and authority as a senator to open a case or to have somebody take another look?” Harrison asked.
She nodded. “I was willing to take that chance to get justice for Tamara, but he didn’t believe she’d been raped in the first place. I was hoping he would use it as part of his re=election platform. I needed somebody with power. Somebody who gave a damn, even if it was for the wrong reason.”
“Did you contact the media?” Levi asked.
She nodded even though Levi couldn’t see it. “A small story published soon afterward in the local newspaper. Then I got an email about two days later, saying how the reporter had been fired and for me not to contact him again.”
“Sounds like we have two very distinct issues here,” Levi said. “Whether they actually cross, we can’t tell yet. Harrison, I suggest you spend the day doing as much legwork as you can. We will conference again tomorrow morning, but I want an update tonight before all of you go to bed.” Levi rang off.
Harrison asked Zoe, “You ready to go to the hospital?”
She stood, but he could see the fatigue pulling at her. The stress. She wrapped her arms around her chest and said, “Yes, let’s go.”
As they walked toward the front door, he asked, “Do you really think your mother would sell the house and leave town after your father dies?”
“She’s hated that place since forever. And, yes, it’s possible. I just don’t know for sure. My mother has never been on her own in her life. I don’t think she’d take to living alone easily.”
“She must have friends.”
“One of them is Richard.” She smiled at Harrison. “She’s talked about him a little. I have vague memories of meeting him. But never when my father was around.”
Harrison nodded. “You never know. Maybe she’ll end up seeing a little more of Richard when she heals.”
“At least he’s a nice man. He’s looking after her. Instead of being the man who put her where she is.”
*
Once again Harrison parked behind the hospital, leading her through a secure rear entrance. He punched in the code, and she asked, “How is it you know them?”
“Richard texted them to me this morning. I was instructed to use this during the day only. We will
be on camera from the time we enter, and before we get to the top floor where your mom is, they will have confirmed we’re the only ones who came in and that we’re going straight from here to there.”
She shook her head. “I should be happy to hear she’s under such intense security, but it’s kind of unnerving.”
“Unnerving, yes. But not a bad thing. Richard is making sure she’s safe. And for that, you should be grateful.”
“I am. That you are all ex-Navy is a huge help too.”
He gave her an odd look. “Levi and his unit were betrayed on a mission. They were quite badly injured and were in the standard naval hospital. But we suspected somebody there was still trying to get to them. When the hospital was attacked, Ice quickly arranged for them to be airlifted out and had them moved here. So security is always tight now.”
“Nice to have Ice to call on. Most people can’t afford a medical facility like this.”
“Exactly, but Richard is Ice’s father, and this involved Levi. Ice and Levi have been together for a long time. Not an easy road, and at the point where this all blew up in their faces, they were on and off. However, as Levi healed, they got over their differences once and for all and are together now.”
“Nice to see a light shining at the end of the tunnel for them.” The elevator doors opened in front of them, and they stepped out.
Two security guards waited for them. Harrison nodded at them. “Any change in her condition?”
They both shook their heads. “She wakes and goes under.”
As they walked toward Trish’s room, the door opened, and Richard stepped out. He smiled at them. “Good timing. She’s awake. I’ll come in with you and see how her reaction is toward Zoe. See if there is any lucidity in her gaze.”
Worried that her mother might not know her, per Richard’s words, Zoe stepped cautiously inside her hospital room.
Her mother turned her head and gazed at her, and tears filled her beautiful blue eyes. She lifted her arms, and Zoe ran toward her. Crying, she dropped to the side of the bed and gently laid her head on her mother’s chest. “Mom, oh, my God, you’re awake.”
Her voice slurred, she whispered, “I’m here, Zoe. I’m here.”
Zoe’s heart was overwhelmed with relief. She lay for a long moment, loving the solid thump of her mother’s heartbeat, knowing she was now likely to make a full recovery. And, even if there was physical damage, chances were good that her mental faculties would return to normal.
When Zoe could, she sat up, snatched a tissue off the bedside table and wiped her eyes. She smiled at her mom and asked, “How are you feeling?”
Her mother smiled and let her eyes drift closed. “Like I’ve been run over by a cement truck,” she whispered.
“Well, that’s close.”
Her mom’s eyes opened. She stared at Zoe with a confused expression. “Was there a car accident?”
Zoe glanced at Richard, still standing in the room. She didn’t know if she should say anything or not.
Richard gave her a slow shake of his head.
“No. We’re not exactly sure what happened,” she said, patting her mom’s hand reassuringly. “All that’s important is you’re getting treatment, and you’ll pull through.”
She watched as her mother’s eyelids closed again. She leaned down and kissed her mom’s cheek. “I’m so glad to see you awake.”
“So…tired,” her mom whispered. Her voice drifted off, fainter and fainter.
Zoe rested her forehead against her mom’s for a long moment, realizing that, as she did so, her mom had again been lured under into the peace and silence of slumber. She picked up her mom’s hand and gently brought it to her lips. She looked at Richard. “She’s gone back to sleep.”
He softly patted Zoe on the shoulder. “But it’s a healing sleep. She’s been awake. She’s managed to talk. She recognized you. Those are huge milestones.”
Zoe smiled at him, tears once again forming in her eyes. “Please look after her.”
He gave her the sweetest smile she thought she’d ever seen on the man.
“Of course I will. We’re old friends.”
Zoe stepped back, glancing at her mom. “Maybe when this is all over …” She left it at that. For once her mother had to decide for herself. But it would be a long road before that happened. Zoe just hoped, if her mother ever found another man, it would be someone nice, like Richard. Nothing like her father. She glanced toward Harrison, standing at the closed door, waiting for her. She smiled and said, “It’s okay. We can leave now.”
He nodded toward her mom. “Richard, how long is she likely to sleep this time?”
“Most of the day again.”
“May we stop by this afternoon?”
“I can’t guarantee she’ll be awake. I do understand you need to ask questions, but she doesn’t appear to remember what happened at this point.” He held up a hand. “And before you ask, her memory will come back most likely, but it could take anywhere from a few minutes, days, or even weeks. Most of the time the brain blocks the trauma so patients have an easier time surviving. And right now, healing is what’s most important.”
Richard’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out, and the color washed from his face. He turned a hard glare at Harrison. “Someone just tried to come through the same entrance you did.”
“Saul or Dakota?”
Richard shook his head. “No idea. He wore a mask at the entrance but tossed it somewhere.”
“How far in did he get?”
“He didn’t. But he’s searching for a weak entrance around the perimeter right now.”
“Stay here,” Harrison ordered Zoe. “I’ll be back after I check it out.”
“Really?” she snarled. “Remember who I am as well.”
He turned to her in surprise before a look of understanding crossed his face. He leaned down and said, “I do. That’s why I’m leaving you to guard your mother.” He tilted up her chin and kissed her mouth. Hard.
Before she had a chance to react he was gone.
Chapter 9
Zoe raised her fingers to her lips. If he had still been here, she’d consider decking him for that kiss. Or dragging him closer. Sigh. She was an idiot. She was grateful he remembered she was military too. It wasn’t that she was infallible by any means. Part of the reason she got into the military had been to learn to fight. Learn more ways to defend herself. She’d taken enough beatings growing up. No way, no how, would she take any more. On top of that, she wouldn’t let her mother suffer more either.
Security had gone with Harrison. Richard was talking on the phone. “Damn,” she whispered. She glanced to the left and right. She had no intention of going outside or waking up her mom unless she had to. She took a quick assessment of the room, her mind cataloguing the differences, benefits, and weapons at hand.
This was a bedroom with a sitting room attached. It was comfortable, cozy, and relaxed-looking.
A huge advantage for someone during recovery. But not so much for anyone trying to cause chaos—or stop it. Anybody who studied hospitals for any length of time would know where the supply rooms were, how the laundry chute system worked, and where the disposable biohazardous materials were. Plus, the good or bad security in a place like this.
As far as weapons went, the room was looking more than scarce. And that was a real concern. She might not have the same training as Harrison did, but she was no slug. She excelled in every one of those defense classes she had taken.
Always with the thought of her father in the back of her mind. It was funny because none of the guys had asked her about that. She’d like to have beaten the crap out of him, like he had done to her. A bullet was way too easy, nice, and light a punishment for a man who had put her and her mom through hell.
Zoe walked into the bathroom. One bar of soap. There was a towel, however. She grabbed that.
It wouldn’t help against a bullet. But if they came with knives, that was a whole different story.
A bathrobe hung behind the door. She quickly removed the tie and wrapped it around her wrist. She might not be strong enough to break a guy’s neck easily, but she sure as hell could choke him to death.
She shook her head as she sorted through the room. She didn’t understand why anybody would bother coming after her mother. It wasn’t like she knew anything or was a danger to anyone.
Unless she had seen who had shot Father.
That was something worth killing for. Hard to consider her brother could’ve done something like this. But of course, anybody could have under the right circumstances. Then again, maybe her brother would have tried to take out the man who’d attacked their mother. She doubted it though, as she didn’t remember him ever caring about her or Zoe. Alex was all about Alex.
Maybe he figured she’d give him a reward or sign over a big chunk of his inheritance as a thank you.
Zoe went out in the hallway to see Richard had left. At least he had security cameras in his hospital, and his security people were armed. She suspected Harrison was as well. She really needed to consider getting a license to carry herself.
She returned to her mom and sat at her bedside. She gently stroked her mother’s fingers saying, “It’s okay, Mom. I don’t know if you’re awake or not. But I’m here, and I won’t let anybody hurt you ever again.”
Her mother’s eyes slowly drifted open. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. I couldn’t stop it.”
Zoe stroked her mom’s cheek. “What are you sorry for, Mom? You don’t have any reason to be.”
Her mother made a tiny head movement that could’ve been either a nod or shake. “Yes,” she whispered. “I should’ve left a long time ago.”
“You don’t have to now. He won’t survive. The bullet is lodged in his brain. I haven’t checked on him yet today.”
That was a whole lot to tell her. But she knew her mother was worried. At the forming of a frown on her beautiful face, Zoe said, “I’ll call and find out.”
The frown cleared. Anything to keep a smile on her pretty face.